World of Warcraft®

((Hello all. I am Dawn Singer, and I have been doing a bit of leveling along with a side of RP and I have found it very enjoyable. In the mean time I have been writing a back story. I would like your thoughts and criticism, constructive please.))


7 years ago:

I don’t know what’s worse. Knowing your destiny and not being able to change it, or not knowing your destiny and still not being able to change it. Not knowing, a fear itself. Paranoia, every turn you take, every move you make has a consequence. And it’s all planned out by a god who says screw you.

Dawn Singer was lying on a crate behind the Stormwind Cathedral. His head was tilted down; mud on his face, and raggedy beggar clothes covered his body. He knew what he had done. The only thing that can be done when anger and rage fills every pore in your body. When steam blows out of your ears to have to listen to them brag about themselves only so that they could cover up the lies that really sheathed their body.

A Stormwind Guard approached Dawn, “Beggar, can I ask you a few things?” He tossed a few gold pieces in front of Dawn. A sign that said, we need information but we have no where to look. “A City Guard was murdered 3 days ago, do you have any insight?” Dawn froze, his voice started to shake and panic grew from the inner most part of his soul. Dawn stuttered, “I-I… I haven’t seen.. or heard… a.. thing.” The Guard looked annoyed; he tossed a few more gold pieces, “Are you sure?” Dawn looked to his right and left, another sign. Dawn hated him-self for this, pretending. He was a fraud, just like the guard he killed.

“I..I might’ve heard one or two things. But here on the streets, anyone will say anything to get a coin.” That was the only one of two truths that left his mouth during the conversation. The Guard nodded and replied, “Well we will the information to catch the perpetrator.” That was also false, what the Guard really wanted to say is, we don’t care who we accuse, they’ll get locked in the stocks tortured and killed and justice will be served. Dawn began to speak building a little more confidence, “I heard it was a night elf. Some say it was a horde a horde assassin.” He whispered, “Garona.” The Guard didn’t look satisfied, he grabbed Dawn by the throat, “Tell me what you know or YOU’LL be charged with it.”

That would be ironic wouldn’t it? Or would that be justice? Killed for a crime you committed, but a crime they don’t know you had done. Killed because you didn’t want to give false information they wanted to hear. Information beggars never have.

The Guard released Dawn, “Okay… It was a night elf. Carries a big two handed axe, black with red markings.” The Guard smiled, “So you’ve seen him?” Dawn smiled on the inside, “Him? No no. I’ve definitely seen her.” The Guard’s smile turned into a cold, dead stare. He turned his back, “Thank you citizen, if you hear anything else tell the Guard. Do your city a favor.” The Guard walked off and Dawn sighed with relief. He stood up, and opened the crate he was on, inside was some casual clothes and underneath that was a two handed black axe with red markings.

((There is still more, so please don't post anything.))

5 years ago:

Stormwind city was quiet, night had fallen over the city but a section in the stockades was lit brightly. Dawn the beggar walk down the hall filled with torches, to the room of execution, but his fate was not sealed. A night elf no one ever knew or laid eyes on was fixing to be beheaded. The Executioner who was also a night elf but very dark, stood up; “Today, on this fine night we honor our fallen Stormwind Guard brother. Today, the vile murderer which took the life of an innocent protector of life will soon be brought to justice!” He rose up the weapon Dawn had used to kill the guard.

The commotion in the room covered the sound of a whet stone sharpening the axe. It was silent to everyone except Dawn. The Executioner rose the weapon up again and everyone in the room cheered. “I would like to call Cyder up here.” Cyder, an alias Dawn used. “Cyder, can you tell us who saw with this weapon? The weapon used to murder a City Guard!”

Me… IT WAS ME! The voices in my heads screaming, telling myself to turn myself in. But I couldn’t, I was too cowardly to face up to death. I could take life, but I could not bare having my life taken.

Dawn nodded, and then pointed at the night elf who was sobbing in the wooden stocks. The Executioner, with a huge smile embraced Dawn, and handed him a small bag of gold coins. Paid to lie…again. Dawn’s heart was beating so intensely, one would think the horde army was marching into Stormwind. The crowd grew silent, and the Executioner raised the axe into the air and brought it pummeling to the night elf’s hand severing it from her body. Dawn stood there wide eyed and speechless while the crowd cheered.

I… I got away with it. His heart was no longer in beat with an army marching. It was calm. Dawn went to behind the cathedral took his beggar clothes off and put a dark blue shirt with black pants, black boots and sheathed his sword and set it on his back. He walked to the Blue Recluse. Someone outside the door looked at him, drunk and staggering he approached Dawn, “Hey, are you shoupposhed to be Cyder?” Dawn shook his head, “No, I’m sorry my friend, you got me confused with someone else. The name is Brin.” Another fake name, for another fake life.

Dawn took a sit at the bar and ordered some bourbon. A rugged dreanei sitting 10 feet to the left of him at the bar was tapping his foot. To Dawn, the tapping sounded like an army marching.

Paranoia or annoyance? It’s like he knows, but he can’t. I know he can’t. “Could you please stop tapping?” The dreanei stopped for a moment and observed Dawn. “Oh yea? Why should I.” Dawn took a couple drinks of his bourbon, “Well first, I’ll take that squid off your face and throw it back in the ocean… Oh wait, that is your face!” The dreanei and his dwarf friend stood up, Dawn unsheathed his sword before someone snatched it from him. “No no, we use fists in here.”

((There is still more, so please don't post anything.))

2 years ago:

The sun was setting; Dawn was wearing silver plate armor (except a helm) and walked into a Booty Bay bar. A couple people who recognized him from his long red hair, stood up from their seats and moved to the other side. “Give me whatever, I don’t care.” A goblin slightly larger than the rest came up to Dawn, “Listen friend, who do you think you are coming into here scaring the customers.” The goblin sniffed, “Seems like you already have had a bit too much to drink.”

Dawn looked at him, “Hey there are no children allowed in here.” An Orc sitting in the nearby chuckled. Dawn took the first swing hitting the goblin in the jaw. The goblin smirked, he pulled out a dagger and slashed Dawn’s armor, cutting through so his skin. Dawn overpowered the goblin and managed to disarm him before knocking him to the ground and kicking him constantly in the head. The Orc charged Dawn and knocked him down. The Orc attempted to heal the goblin’s wounds but the damage had already been done.

Two goblin guards grabbed Dawn, and the Orc leaned over to feel the bleeding goblin’s heartbeat. “He’s dead… The bastard killed him!” The Orc was holding back the tears but his voice was quivering, “You killed my friend… MURDERER!” The Orc swung his mighty fist and knocked out Dawn.

1 ½ years ago:

Back in this dump. Dawn was in the stocks waiting to be transported to the execution room. The Executioner walked into the room and took a cold hard stare at Dawn. He brought him to the room. “Brin Deloak, you are here awaiting to be executed on the charges of... 35 assaults, 1 murder of a booty bay guard, 10 theft, 3 counts of attempted murder, and not paying a debt, a mass sum of 14,000 gold. Is there anything else you would like to say?”

This is it. This is what justice feels like. Is this justice, or fear? “I do…5 ½ years ago, in this very room, a female night elf was beheaded; beheaded for the murder of a Stormwind guard. But, you killed the wrong person.” He took a deep breathe. “THE MURDERER WAS ME!” The audience was silent. “I am Cyder, the beggar who confirmed the night elf’s involvement with the murder.

The Executioner stood there in disbelief. “Let it be known that lying will also be added to the charges.” The door swung open, and a messenger approached the Executioner. He whispered to him and Dawn listened closely. “Sir, we have horde attacking, we need able bodied men; this can wait another day.” The Executioner grumbled before setting his weapon down. The people in the room left, except for a person in a gray robe, his hood covering his face.

The man walked to him, “Do you feel it? It beats, but it has no veins. It beats but has no arteries. It beats, but yet it is just a feeling.” Dawn looked down at the ground nodding to what he was saying. “If you want to rid yourself of guilt,” he waved his hands over the chains and they unlocked. “Go to Northshire, follow the sun and night will not bother you.” Dawn stood there confused, “What do you mean?” With that the man walked out the door.

((There is still more, so please don't post anything.))

Couple hours later that night:

Marshal McBride was standing on the steps giving a speech. “Today is a great day for all of you ladies and … Well not yet gentlemen. You want to follow the light, so now here your chance to learn!” Dawn walked in at his closing statement. Follow the light? This is paladin training? Oh no. A voice came out near a tree, “Dawn! Come here.” Dawn jumped, not many people knew his real name. He realized it was the man in the gray robe from earlier in the stocks.

He walked over there, “Who are you.” The robed man laughed, “If you let me, I’ll be a friend. So you came here to be freed of your guilt. I can make that happen but… Another life will be ended by your decision.” Dawn looked at him, “What? You want me to kill someone?” The robed man shook his head, “No, tell me… Promise me you’ll become a paladin, and your name will be cleared. I can say, the person who will replace you is far worse. He is scum and deserves far worse. You will be doing a favor for the both of you.”
Dawn nodded in agreement. The robed man walked off toward Goldshire, disappearing into the foggy darkness.

It can’t be that easy? My problems gone like that? We’ll see tomorrow. “Hey are you here for the paladin training?” An elderly man approached Dawn. “Yes sir, it seems that way.” The man smiled, “Well c’mon, they are starting.

Following Day:

Dawn walked into the Blue Recluse, sat at the bar and ordered some bourbon. The faces of the surrounding people looked familiar; the bartender walked over set down the drinks and gave Dawn a look. “I don’t believe I’ve seen you around here before? You new?”

Dawn looked surprised, he had been in here multiple times, in fact almost every night. “Yes sir, learning to become a paladin. The name is Dawn Singer” The bartender gave Dawn a nod, “Welcome to Stormwind Dawn.”

Welcome to Stormwind Dawn.

((Constructive criticism and thoughts please :) ))

So...you are a man who murders without motive? And frames others for your crimes? And now you are given a chance to either keep doing it or be redeemed by doing good things as a paladin? Or are you still the same "angry without cause" serial killer hiding behind yet another false identity?

Murders without motivation? "He was a fraud, just like the guard he had killed." I had motivation, just one I purposely didn't mention.

I didn't elaborate on how the night elf was with the weapon. I will say, that she was not framed, by me. However, I said I saw her with the weapon, I didn't say she did it though, but the night elf was still executed. Which hints at corruption within the city guard.

Redemption? It's more a less a selfish reason to not get executed. But the Light is forgiving, and I'm sort of taking advantage of it. (Which who doesn't?)

Not a serial killer. Certainly a murderer, but it was a crime of passion. Which doesn't make it alright, it is my reason. I'm not cold hearted. However, alcohol had something to do with the crimes.

So, then, Dawn is a Paladin for selfish reasons? He's not truly a follower of the Light?

Very selfish. But recently, day by day he has been learning to enjoy the Light and is accepting it more and more.

I have a hard time accepting this. Perhaps you have not filled in all the motivation, but if you are going to rp as someone who has a shady past and seeks redemption, then your guilt over the fraud you committed would make you seek atonement. Not more fraud, somewhere along the line you need to make things right by confessing to your murder and seeking forgiveness. To the family of the one who was framed for the murder you committed perhaps? That would make an interesting storyline. If you are going to be a true paladin, and accept the teachings of the Light you should be suffering severe guilt and maybe the Light will eventually convince you to purge that guilt somehow. Just my opinion of course.

The Light IS changing him. If you attend the Light and You thing, I was pretty aggressive, but as the weeks go on, he is going to become more and more lighthearted. It'll probably be something I start doing if I start RPing more regularly. Oh, and I never framed the person either. :|

05/26/2011 01:51 PMPosted by Dawnsinger

I will say, that she was not framed, by me. However, I said I saw her with the weapon, I didn't say she did it though, but the night elf was still executed. Which hints at corruption within the city guard.

And at this stage in my character's progression, I haven't been fully emerged in with the light. I am a "recruit", but as my character becomes a more "righteous" paladin, the story may emerge will him seeking forgiveness.

Thank you for the questions and commentary, gets me more thinking of future ideas on my character. =)

((I took Haggerty's advice and I wrote out a backstory. This includes him seeking forgiveness and finding more than what he was looking for.))


5 months ago:

Dawn was once again wearing his beggar clothes. Instead of his once bald head, he grew some of it out, combed it back and dyed it brown. He went by the name Croger, but instead of hiding, he was seeking. No one followed a beggar. No one suspected them of anything, Dawn knew this, and did not want to draw attention to himself. Beggars exchange information (the truth) to each other. But to anyone of importance or to who may look like they will double cross them, they give false information, or parts of the truth.

He searched for months to find the man of the daughter who he had killed years ago. Not directly, but his actions. While he did not swing the axe, he sharpened it by keeping his vow of silence. But destiny caught up to him. He wants to become a stronger paladin he must find the source of wickedness within his heart that prevents him from doing so. He knew it all the long. He vowed to give up drinking, gambling, fighting pointless fights and lying. But the biggest lie was living, was the execution. He learned from a shady source that the man he searched for resided in an uncharted island off the coast of Desolace.

Somewhere off the coast. Great. Dawn approached the gryphon master. “May I rent one?” The female dwarf looked up at Dawn, “I’m sorry sir but we are not renting any gryphons out today. But we do have one spare gryphon, that’ll cost 300g.”

Dawn gasped, “300g! Is this bird instantaneous?” The dwarf shook her head no, “We have been having flight problems since the emergence of a certain dragon.” Dawn covered his face with both his hands and rubbed them down his face and to his neck. “I… Don’t have that.”

The dwarf shrugged her shoulders, “Well you could take a slower one for free. It’s most likely to get you killed though, and it will take a few hours.” Dawn didn’t waste a moment. “I’ll take it!”

Few hours later:

Dawn arrived over Booty Bay. Never thought I’d come here again.. The gryphon touched down on the port city and Dawn got off and began to stretch his legs. A goblin commoner approached Dawn, “Hello there stranger! My! It’s cold out and you are wearing just that?!” To be honest, Dawn never even noticed. “Well here! Take this and go buy you some warm clothes, on behalf of the goblins of Booty Bay, welcome and have fun!”

Ten gold, that should be enough to buy something to wear, other than these raggedy clothes. … This shirt… Is… Itchy, and these pants… Is this gorilla? Bah, 5g, what can you expect. A horn blows and a human yells out. “ALL ABOOOOARD! The boat to Ratchet leaves in a minute.” Dawn looks up, “A minute?!” He sprints off toward the boat, yelling, “Make sure the boat doesn’t leave! Don’t let the boat leave!” He makes it to the boat and a gnome taps his foot impatiently, “You’re holding up the show! Get on, you can breathe later.”

((More to be posted.))

2 months later (3 months ago):

“Land! Land! Smoothest sail I’ve ever had!” Dawn looks at the gnome, “That was smooth?” The gnome chuckles, “For a paladin you sure do get seasick.” Dawn opens his mouth to say something before the gnome replies, “Come on, it is obvious. Your aura practically spells out the Light.”

Dawn approached the goblin flight master, “I need a flight to Desolace.” The goblin points to his left, Dawn glances carefully, “What am I looking for?” The goblin looks at Dawn, “You gotta take the teleporter. No flights today, I’m sorry.”

Dawn approached a gnome with a smile, “Hello friend, how does this thing work?” The gnome jumped up on a stool, “Well I push a couple buttons here and there, the coordinates, and off you go! Where are you heading.” Dawn steps in the machine, “Desolace please.”
The gnome’s hands move with great speed pressing random buttons. “Okay, you will be transported to Shadowprey Village in 3 seconds.” Dawn looks at him confused, “Wait isn’t that H…”

Dawn lands in Shadowprey Village, a bright light fades away and Dawn opens his eyes to see several pairs of eyes staring at him. Dawn quickly assembled himself, “I.I.I… There was a mix up! I don’t know where I’m supposed to be.” A Troll and an Orc laugh, the Troll walks up and points off toward a small encampment 50 yards off. , “Mon, you be that way, or.” He points at the ground, “That way.”

Dawn sprints off to the camp. “Okay… I… Need… A…. “A human interrupts him, “Whoa there, I’m going to need to see some kind of identification before I let you fly this beauty.” Dawn looked at the gryphon, “That thing is hideous!” The human glared, “What did you say?” Dawn stammered with his words, “I said… That, bird, is amazingeous.” The human laughs, “You bet she is; fastest bird you will ever lay eyes on.” Dawn scoffed, “Doubt it.” The human posted his chest up, “Oh? You are an artisan on gryphons are you?! Well give her a go, and she’ll change your mind.”

Dawn quickly hopped on the gryphon which immediately took off; Dawn got a firm hold on the reins and guided it out toward the sea. “He was right, you are fast, but you smell!” The gryphon screeches and tries knocking Dawn off her back. He sees a small island with a house on it, “Oh dear Light, let this be the place!”

Dawn let go of his hold on the gryphon and landed in the water, he starts swimming to the shore when the gryphon picked him up from his clothes with her talons and dropped him on the land. She screeched once more and then flew off. Dawn walks up to the house and knocked on the door. A couple minutes pass, no answer. He knocks louder, this time a large night elf man opens the door.

The night elf with a big grin on his face bows before Dawn, “Welcome Dawn, I’ve been expecting you to drop by. Please come in and have a seat.” Dawn froze for a moment; he took a hard look at the night elf before confirming that this was the guy. He remembered the daughter, dark almost black, vibrant purple hair, almost an exact replica of the father. “Well, I certainly wished you could have come earlier. I had steak.” Dawn smiles, “Oh it’s quite okay, I’m not hungry.”

“So, how did you know I would be coming? And… How do you know who I am. And… Do you know why I am here?” Dawn’s smile faded into a solemn look. The night elf took a seat on a cushioned red chair, “I found out the same way you did. The beggars.” Dawn scratched his head for a moment, “So you know why I am here then?” The night elf shook his head, “No, the beggars told my son, who told me. Quite the talented mage, you should’ve asked him transport you here.”

Dawn covered his face with his palm. “Of course! But, wouldn’t that seem funny, approaching your son and saying, “I need to speak to…”… I didn’t catch your name.” The night elf laughs, “Dawn, you can call me Admiral, everyone else does, I think my family forgot my name. Anyways, I’m sure you had a nice travel, but you did not take the journey to discuss it with me, so let’s get to it. What did you want to speak to me about? It must be urgent, especially in your busy life training as a paladin.”

Dawn paused for a moment. Wait. How does he know I was training to become a paladin.? Dawn stood there for a minute, trying to process the right words. “Well Admiral, it’s about your daughter. About her execution…” The Admiral learned forward his hand on his chin. “She wasn’t the one who did it. And I know who could have stopped it all from happening.”

The Admiral stood up and walks toward Dawn, “Who!? WHO!?” Dawn took a step backwards, “You may want to have a seat.” I’ll need the head start. The Admiral sat down, tears forming in his eyes. “Admiral, it… It…. It was me.” The Admiral, blinked once, “What?” Dawn started to walk backwards.

Dawn began to speak very quickly, “Listen Admiral, I know you probably can’t forgive me, and I’m sure you want to kill me. But it was an accident, I was a coward and I didn’t want to die. I could have stopped it but I didn’t and I have felt guilty every since I started my paladin training. So please sir…” Dawn began to start crying, “Please Admiral, for the Light…”

The Admiral stood up, a stare fell upon Dawn, and the Admiral walked into another room. What… Did I just do? Do I run? Do I hide. Light, what do I do? At that moment, Dawn heard footsteps coming from a room. Dawn opened his eyes wide when the gray robed man from his past walked into the room. In his hand he carried a claymore.”

Dawn hit the ground on his knees. “Admiral! Please! Stop this man, don’t kill me!” The robed man, stopped within an arms length of Dawn. The robed man, kept one hand on the weapon, and with his other hand he took off his hood. Dawn stammered. “Wait. You… You…. You, are the Admiral!... But… Why….” Dawn stood up. “I see. All the quick means of transportation were caused by your doing. You wanted me to get my hopes up and crush them. You want revenge don’t you?” The Admiral raised a finger over his mouth, “Hush.” Dawn stood there quietly and closed his eyes. The Admiral raised the claymore, “On one knee… NOW!” Dawn knelt to one knee, tears streaming off his face.

The Admiral set the sword on Dawn’s right shoulder, then his left shoulder. “Dawn Singer, paladin in training. I knew why you came here. I knew all along. I set everything up, to the best of my ability. You cry, but do you cry in fear? In regret? Or for sadness. Maybe you cry because of all three. But I assure you, you can stop crying. I am not going to kill you. Arise to your feet and look at me.”

Dawn stood and looked the Admiral straight in the eyes. “I will not kill you, because I forgave you a year and a half ago. I wanted to set you in the right place, but since you are here, I suppose I should be more direct.” The Admiral set the claymore on the ground, “Dawn, follow me.” They walked down a hallway that was filled with paintings of war. They stopped in front of a life sized fake human that was in side a glass casing. The fake human was wearing a set of golden armor. The helm had a crack in it, which looked to have been caused by an arrow that was also in the casing. The Admiral put his hand on the glass.

“Many years ago, I had an apprentice. He was a young paladin, much like yourself who had much spunk. He was a brawler, a fighter, and a damn good one at that. One night, after some drinking, we were sitting in our fort, and some of the older ranking officers were making up stories to scare the younger guys. Gruesome stories, some true, some fake. This is his armor. As you can tell, he isn’t alive anymore, the arrow through the skull made sure of that.

The details aren’t exactly known, but how I understand it… He was patrolling after hearing a couple stories. Marching was heard outside the fort. The horde was asking for permission to send an ambassador inside our fort. We replied yes. We don’t know what really happened, but how I like to think it happened was that when the ambassador unknowingly snuck up on my friend, he was startled. He must have already been on edge due to the war stories we told him. The ambassador was stabbed through the gut. My friend panicked, he tried to hide the body, but the smell of decaying flesh would have invaded our nostrils and we would have found out sooner or later.

The following morning, a meeting was held. He came forth to admit what he had done. Right there, I thought a skirmish was going to break out. There was no skirmish, just a single shot and that’s all they needed. They wanted to make a deal, they said to give them the murderer to be taken to a horde prison for trial, or they could fight for him. We refused. We were angry by the proposal and we let our guard down. A horde marksman fired one arrow passed all of us, and shot my friend in the head. One arrow, pierced through the golden helm. In a flash, his life was over. And just like that, the horde walked away. My men awaited orders, my orders to attack, or stay. I was in shock. I knew if we attacked we would have been wiped out. But, I wanted revenge. I did nothing.”

Dawn was listening closely to every bit of detail the Admiral had spoken. “So, by letting me live, you believe you are doing some sort of justice for your friend?” The Admiral smiled, “You catch on quick. But I do not think you know why you cannot fully become an even stronger Paladin. You are having trouble grasping the powers of the Light?”

“Yes Admiral, I thought if I came here and … Came true to the truth, it would relieve me.” The Admiral shakes his head in agreement, “While that is a righteous act indeed; that is not your problem.” The Admiral holds out his hand, “You have a small fish, barely fit for a child; you haven’t eaten in a few days. A man approaches you and claims to have nothing to eat for two weeks. What do you do?” Dawn whirls his hand around, “Do I know this person?” The Admiral jumps up, “That right there is your problem! THAT RIGHT THERE!”

Dawn squints at him. “What’s right where?” The Admiral takes the glass window off of the casing. “Take the armor, except for the helm.” Dawn puts his hands up in the air, “I can’t do that! That has sentimental value…” The Admiral pushes Dawn toward the armor, “Go on and take it, I can’t wear it.” Dawn pauses for a moment. “Oh… I see.” Dawn takes off the armor, and puts it on. The Admiral then smiles, “Now, go pick up the weapon in the other room.”

They walk into the room, Dawn picks up the claymore. “That used to be mine; I carried it wherever I went. It gave me pride, it gave me respect, but the main thing it gave me was…” Dawn interrupted him, “Humbleness. Unselfishness. That is my problem.” Dawn bowed gracefully toward the Admiral. He opened the door when the Admiral stopped him.

“Wait. Let me give you some advice. Just because you wear the gear of a knight, it does not mean people will treat you as a knight. You have to earn that respect. Your talk must set you different. Your actions must set you different. You must be different. Let the Light guide you.”

At that moment, a night elf appeared in front of them. The admiral, embraced the man, “Welcome son, you showed up right on time.” The Admiral gave him a piece of parchment, “Son, take Dawn with you.” The young looking night elf stared Dawn down for a minute. He grasped Dawn’s shoulder which brought them to Stormwind Keep. “My father may forgive you, but, if we cross paths again, I’ll decimate you.”


The Light apparently always has been there. Why I was picked, I don’t know. What makes me unique? Perhaps nothing, maybe that is why I am still alive.

((Thoughts / Constructive Criticism / Comments are greatly appreciated))

((As the others have said, I have a bit of a problem with the early history, but seeking and being redeemed helps. Good job on thinking out such a full background story.))

((Is there anything specific you have a problem with about it? Would like to hear EVERYONE'S opinion / thoughts))